Turkish Poetry and Literature

While eating my fruit salad I cast a furtive glance at Shahid. He was talking to the Japanese teacher miss Tosumoto on one side, and looking secretly at Luda on the other. Exactly at that moment I heard Korean miss Tuila call. She had a sadistic smile on her face:
- Yeees, friends... What do you say, don't you think it's mr. Fatih's turn to make a toast?" Everyone at the table began to clap hands and to shout. Luda silenced them with a sign of her hands and turned towards me smiling:
- Yes mr. Fatih! Let's see, what will you say for us? We are all very curious." I didn't have a chance to escape this. I took my glass and stood up. I turned towards the stage. My eyes met the eyes of Timur from the musicians. A clever boy. He seized the situation immediately and with a sign warned his friends. They took a brake with the music. At that time the German teacher Maria and the Japanese teacher Tosumoto, who were dancing, noticed that I was going to speak and came near us quickly. I felt that looks from other tables turned towards us too. Before starting to talk I run an eye over the ladies' faces. All of them were paying careful attention and wanted to know what I was going to say in general and about women. My God, how serious they were!
- Friends" I said. "I have said before. I can't even imagine a world without women, a man without a woman and a life for men without women. Even the holy place named paradise, despite having all kinds of blessing, became so boring for a man (Adam), that God created a woman (Eve). So what does it mean? For me, the conclusion we have to derive from this symbolic event is this: "A place and a life without a woman, lose all meaning for men and turn to a bone-dry desert; Even paradise earns its true meaning with a woman." At this point I finished my words and raising my glass I said:
- In that case, now I'm saying "long live women" and raising my glass to your honor.
Together with finishing my words, applauds burst in the room. Together with our people, the customers sitting in the near tables too stood up clapping their hands and shouting and raising their glasses drank their drinks in one breath. As soon as we sat back the music had started again. The attention we got from the people at the nearby tables because of my speech, seemed to cause our lady teachers feel arrogantly proud and increased their joy even more. For a moment it looked as if everyone was looking at me with admiration. Ahh, these women! They were the same everywhere: Sometimes they were very cunning, and sometimes became as naive as children.

Towards midnight, there was almost no place to step on the caf├â┬ę's dance floor. Old- young, women- men, everybody was dancing with joy. My habit I couldn't get rid off, to compare my Turkish citizens to the Kyrgyz ones re-appeared: These people really knew how to enjoy a party. It was obvious from their every behavior, that they were making the most of this moment and this atmosphere. Whereas in Turkey, even in this kind of an environment, people couldn't feel themselves completely free; either because of the fear that others are watching them, or because they watch others, thay couldn't enjoy themselves comfortably. Nearly all the lady teachers at the table, holding me and Shahid by the arms, dragged us to the dance floor and forced us to dance. Even Luda, when romantic pieces were played, raised me and mrs. Maral from our seats a few times and almost by pushing us took us to the dance floor. I'm sure that this mischievous girl, had made plans for us days ahead. Without a doubt, my resistance was going to spoil her plans at the end, but at least till the end of this night I was determined not to spoil her and other friends' fun.

Actually I got used to this kind of situations a long time ago; but Shahid's situation was really very bad: My poor friend, was trying to object dance proposals each time, saying that he got tired and that he couldn't dance any more, but none of the half drunk ladies was listening to him. Actually, his bashful and shy manner was even more likeable to the women and caused them to insist on him even more.
It was just the time to give a sweet surprise to Shahid: Without letting anyone notice, I got up from my place and went near the musicians. Timur bended towards my ear while continuing to play his organ and said:
- How can I help you big brother... Do you have a request?" I held out a piece of paper I had written before and brought with me, with some amount of money I squeezed inside to him. Timur took the paper, but held the money back with an offended facial expression:
- I swear it's not possible, big brother! I can't take money from you." Without letting me object he continued:
- If you don't take your money back, I won't play the song you wanted." I did what he said without a choice and thanking him I returned to the table.

- Dear guests! Now we are going to sing a song that our estimable guest Mr. Fatih requested. Mr. Fatih is giving this romantic song of Julio Iglesias, called "Nostalgia", as a gift to all women and especially to his friends Ms. Luda and Mr. Shahid. We are inviting Ms. Luda and Mr. Shahid to the dance floor". As soon as the announcement ended the music started. The teachers loved this surprise. Without a doubt, all of them were aware of what I was trying to do. Some of them expressed that they liked my gesture smiling and applauding, and some of them were encouraging Shahid to get up to dance. I looked at Shahid. He was completely lost (confused). I stood up and went near him. Holding his arm I lift him up and bending over I whispered to his ear:
- My friend, here is the chance you looked for!... Exactly the right time to talk. Come on, let me see you!" Then I pushed him gently towards Luda's side. Luda, with quite a relaxed expression, stood up smiling. She held Shahid's stretched out hand and while walking towards the dance floor she turned her head back and said: "Later I will call you to account for this fait accomply, Mr. Fatih". I watched them from behind. Shahid was walking next to Luda like a sheep for sacrifice. I couldn't leave my friend alone on the dance floor. I had to invite to dance one of the teachers immediately. My eyes searched Ms. Maral. I noticed that at the very moment she looked at me too. It was obvious that she was waiting for me to invite her to dance. We stood up and walked towards the dance floor.

With the arrival of the other customers too, the dance floor became quite crowded. While I was dancing with Ms. Maral, I was trying not to miss seeing Shahid and Luda, without her noticing it. but Ms. Maral wasn't late to show that she wasn't a naive woman at all. Putting both her arms on my shoulders she came closer to me. At that moment I noticed that I haven't paid much attention to her during the hours we sat at the table side by side. She was really an attractive woman of an extraordinary beauty. Her slant eyes were as shining, wild and fearless as a female panther's eyes. In front of those self assured, shining eyes, I felt shaken for a moment. She brought her smiling face surrounded by her jetblack hair closer to my face and said with an insinuating voice tone:
- Mr. Fatih, you're scary. I, to gain some time and gather myself together, freed myself from her arms with an elegant movement and holding her arm I pushed her towards the back of her shoulder. While turning around quickly she moved away from me. Then I pulled her back towards me with the same speed. maral was ready for each movement. She performed this dance figure fluently and flawlessly. I said:
- Why do you think it's necessary to fear me, Ms. Maral?" Instead of answering she embraced me again and leaned her head on my shoulder. I could feel the warmth of her breath on my face:
- Look, you turned Luda's game upside down, Mr. Fatih. Supposedly she had prepared a plan for you and me; but now, it looks as if she has fallen into your trap by herself." she said.